03 THE PETITION

THE PETITION "Do not cast me away when I am old; do not forsake me when my strength is gone!" Psalms 71:9

Reader, do you not often put up the same petition to your good and gracious God? What could be so dreadful, as to be cast off of God? What should we deprecate so much, as to be forsaken when our strength fails? But, "The Lord is the One who will go before you. He will be with you; He will not leave you or forsake you. Do not be afraid or discouraged." Deuteronomy 31:8

No, my aged brother, my aged sister—the Lord will never cast you off; he will never forsake you. Yet, you may relieve your mind by thus praying, and please your God by thus pleading with him, provided you do not suspect his veracity, or doubt his faithfulness. Again the psalmist breathes out his soul, "Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, O God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your might to all who are to come." Psalms 71:18. You see he is panting to be useful He wanted to bear witness for God, to testify to his power, faithfulness, and love.

Blessed be God, he never did forsake an old pilgrim yet! Blessed be God, he never did neglect an old servant yet! Many have deserved it; but he has not dealt with us after our sins, nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. He is faithful to his Word, and cannot lie. He is in one mind, and who can turn him? Let us . . .
abide at his throne,
hang on his Word,
plead for his presence, and
aim in some feeble way to glorify him; and then we may dismiss all our fears about his casting us off, or forsaking us. Then we may sing, if we have breath enough left, "God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth gives way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging!" Psalms 46:1-3.

"This God is our God forever and ever! He will be our guide, even unto death!"Psalms 48:14